Apparatus for the collection and distribution of liquid in a column

Abstract

The apparatus for the collection and distribution of liquid in a column having at least one lamella collector and a distributor outflow system which is arranged below it. A side passage is contained in the or in each lamella collector and liquid outflow openings are arranged in a combination, as a result of which a hydrodynamic equalization for a liquid to be distributed results.

Description

1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to an apparatus for the collection and distribution of liquid in a column. In this a plurality of unordered or ordered packings are located in the column in each case on a carrier grid, beneath which the apparatus for the collection and distribution of liquid is arranged.2. Description of the Prior ArtIn material exchange columns of this kind the packing or the filling body is supported by a carrier grid, with the liquid dripping off over this carrier grid and being caught, mixed and conducted to the new distribution or redistribution respectively or to the liquid removal.Field of application is preferably the material separation technique such as the absorption and desorption in fluid systems, the distillation and rectification and the technical carrying out of reactions at catalyst layers. For several years it has been usual to use non ordered filler bodies or packings, in particular structured or ordered packings respectively...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

To be named as essential advantages of the invention are that a very homogeneous fluid dynamical liquid output with high distribution quality is achieved through the reduction of unnecessary flow turbulences and a high drip location density is realized with a small constructional height. The equalization flows required are far less than the flows in previous collector and distributor constructions.

Furthermore, the stationary liquid content (hold up) is reduced in comparison with a conventional collector and distributor apparatus through a lower number of distributor stages and the horizontal liquid transport is strongly reduced. Smaller passage widths can thus be realized for the distributor passages.

An improvement of the load change behaviour is caused by the shorter dwell time of the liquid in the collector and distributor apparatus and through the reduction of the stationary fluid content.

Advantageous is also the reduction of the total weight of the apparatus and the reduction of the cost and complexity of the assembly in comparison with conventional collector and distributor apparatuses.

Problems solved by technology

In the event of non-uniform liquid output and distribution and the resultant non-uniform wetting, maldistribution (faulty distribution) arises inside the filler body layers for example in the form of passage flow.

This quite considerably restricts the effectiveness and the function of the exchange column.

The turbulences and flow velocities resulting from this method of construction are very large in distributor inflows of this kind.

In this the problem arises that a non uniform distribution of the liquid is produced by the flow in the longitudinal direction of the distributor passages.

Furthermore, it must be remarked that the previous apparatuses for the bringing together and complete mixing of the entire back-flowing liquid after their being caught in the collector and the subsequent multiple new distribution or redistribution up to and including the fine distribution at the drip points are constructionally very complicated and expensive.

Sources of error are for example the non uniform flow conduction through continual accelerations and decelerations of the liquid and the insufficient levelling during the assembly.

In addition the apparatuses for the coarse distribution cause a strong non uniformity for the gas or vapour flow respectively, which has an influence on the efficiency of the entire column.

The apparatus disclosed therein dispenses with installations for the intentional mixing of the captured liquid with the decisive disadvantage that in the event of a non uniform distribution of the liquid a liquid equalization and the flows connected therewith come about in the horizontal plane.

The already described effects of turbulences in the liquid distribution in the conventional distributor apparatuses are even increased through the simple saving in collection and pre-distributor stages and the result is non uniform liquid outflow out of the distributor.

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